As a football fan for over half a century I have been witness to some big and memorable matches including watching the wonderful Inverness Thistle team of the early 1970s secure consecutive Highland League titles, watching Scotland beat czechslovakia in fron of over a hundred thousand at Hampden to secure World Cup qualification, watching Scotland beat England at Wembley, seeing the Jaggies beat Kilmarnock 3-0 in the Scottish Cup to secure a trip to Parkhead which ultimately did not end well despite a 16 year old Les Fridge performing wonders in goal but was still a great day out compared to our usual away days to the likes of Rothes and Lossiemouth.
Then, post merger, watching us beating Arbroath in our very first league game at Telford Street which still felt a bit alien to this old Jaggie. Watching us giving Rangers, whatever became of them? packed with world class players like Laudrup and Gascoigne a good run for their money in our 'home' Scottish Cup quater final at Tannadice. Watching us coming back from 0-3 down at half time to win 4-3 in another Scottish Cup tie against Ayr United in typical Steve Paterson style.
Then, being present when we beat tomorrow's opponents to, after a court battle, secure our first ever promotion to the top tier. The anticipation followed by dejection of our League Cup final at Parkhead, the anticipation followed by by elation of our Scottish Cup triumph at Hampden.
Sadly for me, I missed both legs of our only European tie to date due to holidays commitments entered into by Mrs Kingsmills over a year before.
However, even if I had made those matches, I still think that tomorrow's game in Perth will be the single most important game witnessed in my life.
As a football fan for over half a century I have been witness to some big and memorable matches including watching the wonderful Inverness Thistle team of the early 1970s secure consecutive Highland League titles, watching Scotland beat czechslovakia in fron of over a hundred thousand at Hampden to secure World Cup qualification, watching Scotland beat England at Wembley, seeing the Jaggies beat Kilmarnock 3-0 in the Scottish Cup to secure a trip to Parkhead which ultimately did not end well despite a 16 year old Les Fridge performing wonders in goal but was still a great day out compared to our usual away days to the likes of Rothes and Lossiemouth.
Then, post merger, watching us beating Arbroath in our very first league game at Telford Street which still felt a bit alien to this old Jaggie. Watching us giving Rangers, whatever became of them? packed with world class players like Laudrup and Gascoigne a good run for their money in our 'home' Scottish Cup quater final at Tannadice. Watching us coming back from 0-3 down at half time to win 4-3 in another Scottish Cup tie against Ayr United in typical Steve Paterson style.
Then, being present when we beat tomorrow's opponents to, after a court battle, secure our first ever promotion to the top tier. The anticipation followed by dejection of our League Cup final at Parkhead, the anticipation followed by by elation of our Scottish Cup triumph at Hampden.
Sadly for me, I missed both legs of our only European tie to date due to holidays commitments entered into by Mrs Kingsmills over a year before.
However, even if I had made those matches, I still think that tomorrow's game in Perth will be the single most important game witnessed in my life.